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Soft Goods Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable soft goods designer who is excited to solve problems that have never existed before - because the product category hasn't existed before. You will own ...

Soft Goods Designer

Laguna Hills, CA · On-site

$137K/yr

The Industrial Designer will support the design team's effort to create products to better meet the needs of our customers. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: · Participate in various design ...

Soft Goods Designer

Laguna Hills, CA · On-site

$137K/yr

The Industrial Designer will support the design team's effort to create products to better meet the needs of our customers. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: · Participate in various design ...

soft goods part time

Jacksonville, FL

$14 - $16/hr

Position Summary Reporting to the Sales and Service Manager, a Soft Goods Associate will engage ... Other Duties Please note this is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of ...

soft goods part time

Jacksonville, FL

$14 - $16/hr

Position Summary Reporting to the Sales and Service Manager, a Soft Goods Associate will engage ... Other Duties Please note this is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of ...

Firefly Aerospace builds the next generation of advanced rockets and space crafts designed to lead the industry into tomorrow. RESPONSIBILITIES * Fabricate, assemble, and repair soft goods components ...

Soft Goods Associate - Seasonal

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$14.25 - $15.50/hr

Position Summary Reporting to the Sales and Service Manager, a Soft Goods Associate will engage ... Other Duties Please note this is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of ...

Firefly Aerospace builds the next generation of advanced rockets and space crafts designed to lead the industry into tomorrow. RESPONSIBILITIES * Fabricate, assemble, and repair soft goods components ...

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Soft Goods Designer information

See salary details

$75.5K

$128.3K

$188K

How much do soft goods designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for soft goods designer in the United States is $128,257.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a soft goods designer?

A soft goods designer creates textile-based products such as clothing, accessories, or soft furnishings, focusing on fabric selection, pattern making, and construction. They often use design software like Adobe Illustrator and collaborate with manufacturers to develop functional and aesthetic items.

How much do clothing designers make?

Clothing designers, including soft goods designers, typically earn a median annual salary of around $70,000, though this can vary based on experience, location, and employer. Entry-level designers may earn less, while experienced professionals or those working for major brands can earn significantly more. Skills in CAD software and a strong portfolio can influence earning potential.

What types of products does a Soft Goods Designer typically work on, and who do they collaborate with?

Soft Goods Designers typically work on products such as backpacks, luggage, footwear, apparel, wearable technology accessories, and furniture upholstery—essentially, any item made with flexible materials like fabrics or leathers. In this role, you will frequently collaborate with industrial designers, engineers, product managers, and manufacturers to ensure your designs meet both user needs and production requirements. Expect to work in a fast-paced environment where prototypes are built, tested, and iterated quickly. Daily tasks often include sketching concepts, selecting materials, creating patterns, and refining prototypes based on feedback from the team and end users. This collaborative process helps ensure the final products are both functional and appealing, leading to high-quality designs that stand out in the market.

What is the highest paid designer job?

Among design roles, senior fashion or apparel designers, including those specializing in soft goods, can earn the highest salaries, especially with extensive experience, strong portfolios, and working for major brands or luxury companies. Executive positions such as Creative Director or Design Director typically have higher compensation, often exceeding six figures, and require leadership skills and industry expertise.

What is a Soft Goods Designer job?

A Soft Goods Designer is a professional who specializes in designing textile-based products such as bags, accessories, upholstery, and wearable items. They work with fabrics, patterns, and materials to create functional and aesthetically appealing products. Their role often involves sketching designs, selecting appropriate materials, and collaborating with manufacturers to ensure production quality. Many Soft Goods Designers work in industries like fashion, furniture, outdoor gear, or medical textiles. Strong knowledge of textiles, sewing techniques, and product development is essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Soft Goods Designer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Soft Goods Designer, you need a solid background in textile design, pattern making, sewing, and an understanding of material properties, often supported by a degree in industrial, fashion, or product design. Familiarity with CAD software, 2D/3D modeling tools, and prototyping equipment is typically required, as is knowledge of fabrication processes and relevant industry certifications. Strong communication, creative problem-solving, and attention to detail are essential soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and translating concepts into functional products. These skills ensure successful development of innovative, user-friendly soft goods that meet both aesthetic and functional requirements.

Will AI replace industrial designer?

AI can assist soft goods designers by automating repetitive tasks and providing data-driven insights, but it is unlikely to fully replace the creative and problem-solving aspects of the role. Industrial and soft goods designers rely on human creativity, craftsmanship, and understanding of user needs, which are difficult for AI to replicate entirely. Professionals in this field should focus on developing skills in design software, prototyping, and user research to stay competitive.
What cities are hiring for Soft Goods Designer jobs? Cities with the most Soft Goods Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Soft Goods Designer jobs? The most popular types of Soft Goods Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Soft Goods Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Soft Goods Designer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Soft Goods Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Soft Goods Designer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Soft Goods Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 5% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,257 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Soft Goods Designer

Skip

San Francisco, CA

$137K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

ABOUT US:
Skip is on a mission to make life joyful through powered movement.
Movement is a powerful way to build physical, mental and social health. Yet it is elusive for 2 billion people due to age, injury, or disability. We are building productsthat will restore mobility for millions and enable a new frontier of joyful movement experiences. We want to build a future where a grandparent can easily outrun their grandkids and no one is left behind at the trailhead.
Skip is a 22-person early-stage start-up that spun out of Google X in 2023. With deep cross-disciplinary expertise and key partnerships (e.g. with Arc'teryx) we are uniquely positioned to launch the first commercially successful wearable robotic device, the MO/GO, develop a platform to launch future Movewear products and transform millions of lives in the coming years.
THE ROLE:
We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable soft goods designer who is excited to solve problems that have never existed before - because the product category hasn't existed before.
You will own the design and development of the garments that integrate with the MO/GO, starting with a technical pant built to work with our wearable robotic device. This isn't a fashion brief. It's a functional systems design challenge: the garment is part of the product. You'll work hand-in-hand with our mechanical and human factors engineers to make sure fabric, fit, and device work as one.
Some of the specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Lead the design and technical development of the MO/GO integration pant from concept through production - pattern making, material selection, fit iteration, and factory handoff
  • Define the functional requirements of the garment in close collaboration with our mechanical, firmware, and human factors teams - attachment points, range of motion, load paths, and sensor placement all live in your brief
  • Select and qualify technical fabrics and materials for performance bottoms: stretch wovens, knits, softshells, and any novel material that earns its place on the body
  • Build and iterate physical prototypes rapidly; run fit sessions with internal wearers and external test users and translate feedback into pattern and material updates
  • Own the Bill of Materials, tech packs, and construction specs to a standard that factories can execute reliably at scale
  • Establish and manage relationships with fabric mills, trims suppliers, and cut-and-sew factories; understand lead times, MOQs, and what it takes to actually get something made
  • Contribute to the long-term Movewear soft goods platform - define the design language, material standards, and construction principles that future products will build on
  • Collaborate with our Arc'teryx partners and bring that standard of craft and technical rigour to everything you make
  • Wear prototypes on hikes, in the gym, and around the office - your body is a test rig
Basic Qualifications
  • 8+ years' experience in soft goods design and development, with a focus on technical bottoms
  • 5+ years at an outdoor, performance, or technical apparel company - you know what makes a pant work in the field
  • Expert-level knowledge of technical fabrics for lower body: stretch wovens, softshells, knits, and the trims and hardware that go with them
  • Strong pattern making and garment construction fundamentals - you can read and mark up a pattern, not just a mood board
  • Experience writing tech packs and managing factory relationships through production
  • Ability to relocate to work at the Skip Bay Area office
  • Sense of humour, tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling
Bonus Points
  • Experience designing garments that integrate with hardware, bracing, or orthotic devices
  • Familiarity with human factors, ergonomics, or biomechanics as they apply to garment design
  • Experience with medical or assistive device adjacent apparel (compression, prosthetics interface, exosuit softgoods)
  • Experience in start-up or early-stage product environments
  • Personal motivation to improve human movement
  • Taylor Swift fan. Good taste in background music :)

This is a full time hybrid position working at the Skip office in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.
Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates' ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States.